U.S. patent application number 13/550647 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-24 for settlement system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kazuhiro DOI, Minoru Higashiyama, Keiju Nakagawa, Masatsugu Yokotani. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro DOI, Minoru Higashiyama, Keiju Nakagawa, Masatsugu Yokotani.
Application Number | 20130024304 13/550647 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47074570 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130024304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DOI; Kazuhiro ; et
al. |
January 24, 2013 |
SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
To provide a settlement system capable of being switched between
a cash desk payment style and a pay station payment style at a
given timing in the same store. The present invention is a
settlement system including a cash settlement apparatus and a cash
register, wherein a layout is capable of being switched between a
cash desk payment style in which the cash settlement apparatus is
incorporated in a cash register lane, and a pay station payment
style in which the cash settlement apparatus is separated from the
cash register lane.
Inventors: |
DOI; Kazuhiro; (Himeji-Shi,
JP) ; Higashiyama; Minoru; (Himeji-Shi, JP) ;
Yokotani; Masatsugu; (Himeji-Shi, JP) ; Nakagawa;
Keiju; (Tatsuno-Shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DOI; Kazuhiro
Higashiyama; Minoru
Yokotani; Masatsugu
Nakagawa; Keiju |
Himeji-Shi
Himeji-Shi
Himeji-Shi
Tatsuno-Shi |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
47074570 |
Appl. No.: |
13/550647 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07G 1/0036 20130101;
G06Q 20/202 20130101; G07G 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/16 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/18 20120101
G06Q020/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2011 |
JP |
2011-158185 |
Claims
1. A settlement system including a cash settlement apparatus and a
cash register, wherein a layout is capable of being switched
between a cash desk payment style in which the cash settlement
apparatus is incorporated in a cash register lane, and a pay
station payment style in which the cash settlement apparatus is
separated from the cash register lane.
2. The settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the cash
register includes a switching unit configured to control the layout
switching, a control box is located in the vicinity of the cash
register, and the cash register is configured to transmit and
receive data to and from the cash settlement apparatus in the case
of the cash desk payment style, and is configured to transmit and
receive data to and from the control box in the case of the pay
station payment style.
3. The settlement system according to claim 2, wherein a
transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit is located in the
vicinity of the cash register, and the control box is configured to
cause the transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit to output a
transaction specifying medium, then to perform a transaction
completion notification to the cash register, and to perform a
registration and notification of transaction contents to a
management apparatus, in the case of the pay station payment
style.
4. The settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the cash
settlement apparatus includes a switching unit configured to
control the layout switching, a transaction-specifying-medium
outputting unit is located in the vicinity of the cash register,
and the cash settlement apparatus is configured to perform a
settlement process in the case of the cash desk payment style, and
is configured to give an output command to the
transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit.
5. The settlement system according to claim 4, wherein the cash
settlement apparatus is configured to perform a registration and
notification of transaction contents to a management apparatus.
6. The settlement system according to claim 1, wherein a control
box is located in the vicinity of the cash register, and apparatus
specifying information of the control box with respect to the cash
register is rewritable into apparatus specifying information of the
cash settlement apparatus with respect to the cash register.
7. The cash settlement system according to claim 6, wherein a
transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit is located in the
vicinity of the cash register, and the control box is configured to
cause the transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit to output a
transaction specifying medium, then to perform a transaction
completion notification to the cash register, and to perform a
registration and notification of transaction contents to a
management apparatus, in the case of the pay station payment
style.
8. The settlement system according to claim 2, wherein in the case
of the cash desk payment style in which the cash settlement
apparatus is incorporated in the cash register lane, the settlement
system is operated by a customer himself/herself so that the
customer performs a registration in the cash register and a
settlement process in the cash settlement apparatus.
9. The settlement system according to claim 4, wherein in the case
of the cash desk payment style in which the cash settlement
apparatus is incorporated in the cash register lane, the settlement
system is operated by a customer himself/herself so that the
customer performs a registration in the cash register and a
settlement process in the cash settlement apparatus.
10. The settlement system according to claim 6, wherein in the case
of the cash desk payment style in which the cash settlement
apparatus is incorporated in the cash register lane, the settlement
system is operated by a customer himself/herself so that the
customer performs a registration in the cash register and a
settlement process in the cash settlement apparatus.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a settlement system
including a cash settlement apparatus configured to perform a money
depositing operation and a money dispensing operation, and a cash
register configured to cash register a purchased article and
calculate a total amount thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store,
there is provided a settlement system including a cash settlement
apparatus configured to perform a banknote depositing operation, a
banknote dispensing operation, a coin depositing operation and a
coin dispensing operation, and a POS (Point Of Sale) cash register
configured to cash register an article purchased by a customer and
to calculate a sales amount.
[0003] An example of a settlement process by using such a
settlement system is described. The POS cash register firstly
calculates a sales amount, and notifies the cash settlement
apparatus of the calculated sales amount. When money from a
customer is put into the cash settlement apparatus, the cash
settlement apparatus recognizes and counts the money. Then, the
cash settlement apparatus subtracts the sales amount, which has
been informed by the POS cash register, from a total amount of
money from the customer so as to calculate a change amount. Then,
the cash settlement apparatus dispenses a change.
[0004] The following two styles are typically known as a layout of
a settlement system. One is a cash desk payment style in which a
cash settlement apparatus is incorporated in a cash register lane
(see FIG. 7) and the other is a pay station payment style in which
a cash settlement apparatus is separated from a cash register lane
(see FIG. 8).
[0005] In the case of the cash desk payment style, a POS cash
register and a cash settlement apparatus correspond to each other
in a one on one relationship, and operations are sequentially
performed for each customer. Namely, after an article registration
operation has been performed by the POS cash register, a payment
operation is performed by the cash settlement apparatus. Thus, when
one is operated, the other is generally not operated. Therefore,
when one of the article registration operations and the payment
operation takes time, the cash desk payment style is not efficient.
On the other hand, in the case of the pay station payment style,
the POS cash register and the cash settlement apparatus do not
correspond to each other in a one on one relationship. Thus, by
pausing one of the POS cash register and the cash settlement
apparatus depending on a used condition so that the number of
clerks can be reduced, the settlement system can be efficiently
used.
[0006] In general, any one of the styles is selected, and the
settlement system is installed. Namely, once the settlement system
is installed in a store, the settlement system is fixedly used in
any one of the cash desk payment style and the pay station payment
style.
[0007] In order to make flexible assignment of clerks or the like
with respect to the settlement system, JP3698362B proposes that a
rotating member is employed in the settlement system. Due to the
rotating member, reading of article information can be switched
between a customer side and a cashier side.
[0008] In addition, JP4028773B proposes an apparatus in which an
operation thereof by a customer/clerk can be switched in a checkout
station.
[0009] In addition, JP4482710B proposes a POS apparatus including a
rotating member in which an operation thereof is switched between a
customer side and a cashier side by means of the rotating
member.
[0010] In addition, JP2009-187274A proposes a POS cash register
table in which layout of a POS cash register and equipments thereof
(shopping bags and so on) can be changed.
[0011] In addition, JP2000-149090A proposes a change machine in
which an outlet from which a customer receives a change and an
inlet through which a clerk puts money paid by a customer are
located in opposite directions.
[0012] In addition, JP2005-242634A proposes a checkout system which
can cope with a change in the number of operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] As described above, the conventional techniques propose
that, assignment of clerks can be changed (made flexible) by, e.g.,
partially employing a movable structure, and that an operation
(application) of an apparatus by customer/clerk is switched.
[0014] However, there has been conventionally no idea that the cash
desk payment style and the pay station payment style are suitably
shifted to each other in the same store.
[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a
settlement system in which the cash desk payment style and the pay
station payment style can be switched to each other at a given
timing in the same store.
[0016] The present invention is a settlement system including a
cash settlement apparatus and a cash register, wherein a layout is
capable of being switched between a cash desk payment style in
which the cash settlement apparatus is incorporated in a cash
register lane, and a pay station payment style in which the cash
settlement apparatus is separated from the cash register lane.
[0017] According to the present invention, the settlement system is
configured to be capable of being previously switched between the
cash desk payment style and the pay station payment style. Thus,
the cash desk payment style and the pay station payment style can
be switched to each other significantly easily, at a given timing,
e.g., upon remodeling of a scale of a store. Moreover, the cash
desk payment style and the pay station payment style can be
switched to each other every day of the week, depending on the
number of customers on the day of the week. Furthermore, the cash
desk payment style and the pay station payment style can be
switched to each other more frequently, i.e., every time zone.
[0018] In particular, when the pay station payment style is
employed, the number of cash settlement apparatuses can be reduced
(less) relative to the number of cash registers (the number of cash
register lanes).
[0019] Preferably, the cash register includes a switching unit
configured to control the layout switching, a control box is
located in the vicinity of the cash register, and the cash register
is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the cash
settlement apparatus in the case of the cash desk payment style,
and is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the
control box in the case of the pay station payment style.
[0020] In this case, to be more specific, for example, a
transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit is located in the
vicinity of the cash register, and the control box is configured to
cause the transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit to output a
transaction specifying medium, then to perform a transaction
completion notification to the cash register, and to perform a
registration and notification of transaction contents to a
management apparatus, in the case of the pay station payment
style.
[0021] In this case, after the respective constituent apparatuses
have been transferred to suitable positions without changing a wire
connection condition among the respective constituent apparatuses,
the cash desk payment system and the pay station payment system can
be switched to each other, only by operating the switching unit of
the cash register.
[0022] Alternatively, preferably, the cash settlement apparatus
includes a switching unit configured to control the layout
switching, a transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit is
located in the vicinity of the cash register, and the cash
settlement apparatus is configured to perform a settlement process
in the case of the cash desk payment style, and is configured to
give an output command to the transaction-specifying-medium
outputting unit.
[0023] In this case, to be more specific, for example, the cash
settlement apparatus is configured to perform a registration and
notification of transaction contents to a management apparatus.
[0024] In this case, after the respective constituent apparatuses
have been transferred to suitable positions without changing a wire
connection condition among the respective constituent apparatuses,
the cash desk payment system and the pay station payment system can
be switched to each other, only by operating the switching unit of
the cash settlement apparatus.
[0025] Alternatively, preferably, a control box is located in the
vicinity of the cash register, and apparatus specifying information
of the control box with respect to the cash register is rewritable
into apparatus specifying information of the cash settlement
apparatus with respect to the cash register.
[0026] In this case, to be more specific, for example, a
transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit is located in the
vicinity of the cash register, and the control box is configured to
cause the transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit to output a
transaction specifying medium, then to perform a transaction
completion notification to the cash register, and to perform a
registration and notification of transaction contents to a
management apparatus, in the case of the pay station payment
style.
[0027] In this case, after the respective constituent apparatuses
have been transferred to suitable positions without changing a wire
connection condition among the respective constituent apparatuses,
the cash desk payment system and the pay station payment system can
be switched to each other, only by means of the rewriting operation
of the apparatus specifying information.
[0028] According to the present invention, the settlement system is
configured to be capable of being previously switched between the
cash desk payment style and the pay station payment style. Thus,
the cash desk payment style and the pay station payment style can
be switched to each other significantly easily, at a given timing,
e.g., on season and off season, correspondingly to the number of
available clerks, or upon remodeling of a scale of a store.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block view showing a structural example of a
cash management system including a settlement system according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining an example of a
settlement method, when the cash management system in FIG. 1 is
utilized in a cash desk payment style;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining an example of a
settlement method, when the cash management system in FIG. 1 is
utilized in a pay station payment style;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a block view showing a structural example of a
cash management system including a settlement system according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining an example of a
settlement method, when the cash management system in FIG. 4 is
utilized in the pay station payment style;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an example of a
settlement method, when the cash management system including a
settlement system according to a third embodiment of the present
invention is utilized in the pay station payment style;
[0035] FIG. 7 is an overview showing an example of the cash desk
payment style; and
[0036] FIG. 8 is an overview showing an example of the pay station
payment style.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] Embodiments according to the present invention will be
described herebelow with reference to the drawings. Note that these
embodiments do not intend to limit the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a block view showing a structural example of a
cash management system 1 including a settlement system 2 according
to the first embodiment of the present invention. The cash
management system 1 is a system configured to handle and manage a
cash received by a clerk from a customer and a cash to be paid by
the clerk to the customer.
[0039] The cash management system 1 is installed in a checkout area
in a store. The cash management system 1 is composed of a checkout
counter 10 to which a clerk deposits a cash paid by a customer and
from which a cash to be paid to the customer is dispensed, a back
office 20 configured to manage a cash of the checkout counter 10
and an article for sale, and a cash transport cassette 30
configured to transport a cash between the checkout counter 10 and
the back office 20.
[0040] In the checkout counter 10, there is installed the
settlement system 2 including a cash settlement apparatus 11
configured to deposit and dispense a cash so as to perform a
settlement process with respect to a customer, and a cash register
40 that is connected to the cash settlement apparatus 11 so as to
be able to communicate with each other, and is configured to cash
register an article to be purchased by a customer. Plural sets of
the settlement systems 2 may be provided.
[0041] The cash settlement apparatus 11 is operated by a clerk or a
customer himself/herself, and is used in a settlement process
between the clerk and the customer. For example, the cash
settlement apparatus 11 deposits money paid by the customer or
dispenses a change to be paid to the customer. In more detail, as
shown in FIG. 1, the cash settlement apparatus 11 includes an
operation display unit 12, a banknote handling unit 13, a coin
handling unit 14, a control box 15, a bar code reader 16 and a
receipt printer 17. The control box 15 is configured to control the
respective elements of the cash settlement apparatus 11.
[0042] The cash register 40 is, for example, a POS cash register
operated by a clerk. The cash register 40 includes an operation
unit 41 and a bar code scanner 44 which will be described
below.
[0043] A cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21, a cash management
apparatus 25 and a POS management apparatus are disposed in the
back office 20. The cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21 is
connected to the cash settlement apparatus 11 so as to be able to
communicate with each other. For example, the cash
depositing/dispensing apparatus 21 dispenses a change fund to be
loaded into the cash settlement apparatus 11 or deposits sales
proceeds collected from the cash settlement apparatus 11.
[0044] The cash management apparatus 25 is connected to the cash
settlement apparatus 11 and the cash depositing/dispensing
apparatus 21 so as to be able to communicate with each other,
through a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. The cash management
apparatus 25 manages a cash stored in the cash settlement apparatus
11 and a cash stored in the cash depositing/dispensing apparatus
21. For example, the cash management apparatus 25 manages a cash
that has been settled in each cash settlement apparatus 11, and a
cash transferred between the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the
cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21. The cash management
apparatus 25 may monitor whether the cash transport cassette 30 is
mounted on the cash settlement apparatus 11 or on the cash
depositing/dispensing apparatus 21.
[0045] The POS management apparatus 26 is connected to the cash
register 40 disposed in the checkout counter 10 so as to be able to
communicate with each other, through a LAN or the like. The POS
management apparatus 26 manages a flow of articles and sales
proceeds of the store.
[0046] The cash transport cassette 30 is structured to be removably
mounted on the cash settlement apparatus 11 and on the cash
depositing/dispensing apparatus 21. When the cash transport
cassette 30 is mounted on the cash settlement apparatus 11 or the
cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21, a cash can be transferred
between the cash transport cassette 30 and the cash settlement
apparatus 11 or the cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21. On the
other hand, when the cash transport cassette 30 is removed from the
cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash depositing/dispensing
apparatus 21, the cash transport cassette 30 stores a cash such
that the cash therein cannot be taken out therefrom. A clerk
transports a cash between the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the
cash depositing/dispensing apparatus 21 with the use of the cash
transport cassette 30. For example, when a change fund is loaded or
when sales proceeds are collected, a clerk transports a cash
between the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash
depositing/dispensing apparatus 21 with the use of the cash
transport cassette 30. When the cash is transported, since the
clerk cannot touch the cash in the cash transport cassette 30, the
cash can be safely transported in terms of security.
[0047] The cash transport cassette 30 may be configured to
transport any one of a banknote and a coin, or may be configured to
transport both a banknote and a coin. The cash transport cassette
for banknote 30 may be a cassette of a stacking type in which
banknotes are stored in a stacked manner, or may be a cassette of a
tape-reeling type which reels up a pair of tapes between which
banknotes are sandwiched one by one. The cash transport cassette
for coin 30 may be a cassette that stores coins of mixed
denominations.
[0048] In this embodiment, the cash register 40 is provided with
the operation unit 41 as a switching unit for controlling a layout
switching. In the vicinity of the cash register 40, there are
located the control box 42 and a printer 43
(transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit) configured to print
a receipt as a transaction specifying medium. In the case of the
cash desk payment style, the cash register 40 is configured to
transmit and receive data to and from the cash settlement apparatus
11. On the other hand, in the case of the pay station payment
style, the cash register 40 is configured to transmit and receive
data to and from the control box 42. In addition, in the case of
the cash desk payment style, the cash settlement apparatus 11 is
configured to wait inputting of data from the cash register 40. On
the other hand, in the case of the pay station payment style, the
cash settlement apparatus is configured to wait reading of a
receipt (the cash settlement apparatus 11 has a bar code reader
16).
[0049] Further, in the case of the pay station payment style, the
control box 42 in this embodiment is configured to; cause the
printer 43 to print a receipt, then perform a transaction
completion notification to the cash register 40, and perform a
registration and notification of transaction contents to the cash
management apparatus 25.
[0050] Next, a settlement method by means of such a settlement
system 2 including the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash
register 40 is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0051] Firstly, there is described a case in which the settlement
system 2 is located in the cash desk payment style (see FIG. 7).
Namely, there is described a case in which the cash desk payment
style is selected through the operation unit 41 of the cash
register 40, and the respective constituent apparatuses (the cash
register 40, the cash settlement apparatus 11 and so on) are
located correspondingly. In the example of FIG. 7, there is one
surplus cash settlement apparatus 11 which is not in use. In FIG.
7, the reference number 45 depicts a conveyor for conveying an
article for sale.
(Step S101)
[0052] Article information of an article(s) to be purchased by a
customer is cash registered in the cash register 40 through, e.g.,
the bar code scanner 44, and a purchase amount of articles is
calculated.
(Step S102)
[0053] The cash register 40 transmits the purchase amount of
articles to the cash settlement apparatus 11. (The bar code reader
16 of the cash settlement apparatus 11 is not used.)
(Step S103)
[0054] Money paid by the customer is put into the banknote handling
unit 13 or the coin handling unit 14 of the cash settlement
apparatus 11. The operation of putting money thereinto may be
performed by the clerk or the customer himself/herself. The cash
settlement apparatus 11 performs a depositing operation including a
recognizing and counting operation of the money put thereinto.
(Step S104)
[0055] The cash settlement apparatus 11 calculates an amount of
money put thereinto.
(Step S105)
[0056] The cash settlement apparatus 11 regards the amount of money
put thereinto, which has been calculated in the step S104, as a
total amount of money from the customer, and calculates an amount
of change based on the total amount of money and the purchase
amount of articles, which has been received from the cash register
40 in the step S102.
(Step S106)
[0057] The cash settlement apparatus 11 dispenses change money
based on the amount of change which has been calculated in the step
S105. The clerk may deliver the change money to the customer by
hand, or the customer himself/herself may receive the dispensed
change money.
(Step S107)
[0058] The cash settlement apparatus 11 notifies the cash register
40 and the cash management apparatus 25 of a completion of the
dispensing of change money, i.e., a completion of the cash
settlement.
(Step S108)
[0059] Based on the control of the cash register 40, the printer 43
outputs a receipt on which transaction contents are printed, which
include the article information of the articles purchased by the
customer, the purchase amount of articles, the amount of money paid
by the customer, the amount of change and so on. The customer takes
the receipt by himself/herself or the clerk delivers the outputted
receipt to the customer by hand. The receipt may be outputted from
the receipt printer 17 of the cash settlement apparatus 11.
[0060] Next, a procedure for shifting to the pay station payment
style (see FIG. 8) is described. According to this embodiment, the
shift to the pay station payment style can be achieved by a
significantly simple action. Specifically, the cash desk payment
style is switched to the pay station payment style through the
operation unit 41 of the cash register 40, and positions of the
respective constituent apparatuses (the cash register 40, the cash
settlement apparatus 11 and so on) are changed correspondingly. The
shift to the pay station payment style can be achieved only by the
above action, i.e., without any laborsome operations such as
changing of a wiring connection condition among the respective
constituent apparatuses and/or modifying of a control program.
Similarly, it is also possible to return to the cash desk payment
style without any laborsome operations such as changing of a wiring
connection condition among the respective constituent apparatuses
and/or modifying of the control program. In the example of FIG. 8,
the cash settlement apparatuses 11 whose number is larger than that
of the cash registers 40 are available.
[0061] A settlement method in the pay station payment style is
described with reference to FIG. 3.
(Step S201)
[0062] Article information of an article(s) to be purchased by a
customer is cash registered in the cash register 40 through, e.g.,
the bar code scanner 44, and a purchase amount of articles is
calculated.
(Step S202)
[0063] The cash register 40 transmits the purchase amount of
articles, not to the cash settlement apparatus 11, but to the
control box 42 (this shift of transmission destination is caused by
the switching operation of the operation unit 41 of the cash
register 40).
(Step S203)
[0064] The control box 42 causes the printer 43 to print a receipt
on which transaction contents are printed, which include the
article information of the articles to be purchased by the
customer, the purchase amount of articles and so on. In this
embodiment, the purchase amount of articles is also printed as bar
code information.
(Step S204)
[0065] Further, the control box 42 performs a transaction
completion notification to the cash register 40, and performs a
transaction contents registration and notification to the cash
management apparatus 25.
(Step S205)
[0066] The customer takes the receipt by himself/herself or
receives the printed receipt by hand from the clerk. Then, the
customer transfers to the cash settlement apparatus 11 that is
located separately from the cash register 40.
(Step S206)
[0067] The customer causes the bar code reader 16 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11 to read the bar code information on the
receipt.
(Step S207)
[0068] Money paid by the customer is put into the banknote handling
unit 13 or the coin handling unit 14 of the cash settlement
apparatus 11. The operation of putting money thereinto is generally
performed by the customer himself/herself. The cash settlement
apparatus 11 performs a depositing operation including a
recognizing and counting operation of the money put thereinto.
(Step S208)
[0069] The cash settlement apparatus 11 calculates an amount of
money put thereinto.
(Step S209)
[0070] The cash settlement apparatus 11 regards the amount of money
put thereinto, which has been calculated in the step S208, as a
total amount of money from the customer, and calculates an amount
of change based on the total amount of money and the purchase
amount of article obtained from the bar code information.
(Step S210)
[0071] The cash settlement apparatus 11 dispenses change money
based on the amount of change which has been calculated in the step
S209. The dispensed change money is generally received by the
customer himself/herself.
(Step S211)
[0072] The cash settlement apparatus 11 notifies the cash register
40 and the cash management apparatus 25 of a completion of the
dispensing of change money, i.e., a completion of the cash
settlement. Then, a receipt showing the completion of cash
settlement is outputted from the receipt printer 17 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11.
[0073] As described above, according to this embodiment, the
settlement system 20 is configured to be capable of being
previously switched between the cash desk payment style and the pay
station payment style, by the operation unit 41 of the cash
register 40. Thus, the cash desk payment style and the pay station
payment style can be switched to each other significantly easily,
at a given timing, e.g., on season and off season, correspondingly
to the number of available clerks, or upon remodeling of a scale of
the store. Moreover, the cash desk payment style and the pay
station payment style can be switched to each other every day of
the week, depending on the number of customers on the day of the
week. Furthermore, the cash desk payment style and the pay station
payment style can be switched to each other more frequently, i.e.,
every time zone.
[0074] FIG. 4 is a block view showing a structural example of a
cash management system 1 including a settlement system 2 according
to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, an operation display
unit 12 of a cash settlement apparatus 11 functions as a switching
unit for controlling a layout switching. The other structures of
the cash settlement apparatus 11 are the same as those of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Similarly to the first embodiment, in
the vicinity of a cash register 40, a printer 43
(transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit) configured to print
a receipt as a transaction specifying medium is disposed, but a
control box is not disposed near thereto. In either case of the
cash desk payment style or the pay station payment style, the cash
register 40 in this embodiment is configured to transmit and
receive data to and from the cash settlement apparatus 11. In the
case of the cash desk payment style, the cash settlement apparatus
11 is configured to wait inputting of data from the cash register
40. On the other hand, in the case of the pay station payment
style, the cash settlement apparatus 11 is configured to cause the
printer 43 to print a receipt, and then to wait reading of the
receipt.
[0076] The other structures in this embodiment are the same as
those in the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same members as those
in the first embodiment are shown by the same reference numbers of
those in the first embodiment, and description of the same members
is omitted.
[0077] Next, a settlement method by means of such a settlement
system 2 including the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash
register 40 is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5.
[0078] When the settlement system 2 is located in the cash desk
payment style (see FIG. 7), the settlement method is the same as
that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.
2.
[0079] Next, a procedure for shifting to the pay station payment
style (see FIG. 8) is described. According to this embodiment, the
shift to the pay station payment style can be achieved by a
significantly simple action. Specifically, the cash desk payment
style is switched to the pay station payment style through the
operation display unit 12 of the cash settlement apparatus 11, and
the positions of the respective constituent apparatuses (the cash
register 40, the cash settlement apparatus 11 and so on) are
changed correspondingly. The shift to the pay station payment style
can be achieved only by the above action, i.e., without any
laborsome operations such as changing of a wiring connection
condition among the respective constituent apparatuses and/or
modifying of a control program. Similarly, it is also possible to
return to the cash desk payment style without any labor some
operations such as changing of a wring connection condition among
the respective constituent apparatuses and/or modifying of the
control program.
[0080] A settlement method in the case of the pay station payment
style is described with reference to FIG. 5.
(Step S301)
[0081] Article information of an article(s) to be purchased by a
customer is cash registered in the cash register 40 through, e.g.,
the bar bode scanner 44, and a purchase amount of articles is
calculated.
(Step S302)
[0082] The cash register 40 transmits the purchase amount of
articles to the cash settlement apparatus 11.
(Step S303)
[0083] The cash settlement apparatus 11 transmits a receipt
printing command to the printer 43.
(Step S304)
[0084] The printer 43 prints a receipt.
(Step S305)
[0085] The customer takes the receipt by himself/herself or
receives the printed receipt by hand from the clerk. Then, the
customer transfers to the cash settlement apparatus 11 that is
located separately from the cash register 40.
(Step S306)
[0086] The customer causes the bar code reader 16 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11 to read the bar code information on the
receipt.
(Step S307)
[0087] Money paid by the customer is put into the banknote handling
unit 13 or the coin handling unit 14 of the cash settlement
apparatus 11. The operation of putting money thereinto is performed
by the customer himself/herself. The cash settlement apparatus 11
performs a depositing operation including a recognizing and
counting operation of the money put thereinto.
(Step S308)
[0088] The cash settlement apparatus 11 calculates an amount of
money put thereinto.
(Step S309)
[0089] The cash settlement apparatus 11 regards the amount of money
put thereinto, which has been calculated in the step S308, as a
total amount of money from the customer, and calculates an amount
of change based on the total amount of money and the purchase
amount of article obtained from the bar code information.
(Step S310)
[0090] The cash settlement apparatus 11 dispenses change money
based on the amount of change which has been calculated in the step
S309. The dispensed change money is generally received by the
customer himself/herself.
(Step S311)
[0091] The cash settlement apparatus 11 notifies the cash register
40 and the cash management apparatus 25 of a completion of the
dispensing of change money, i.e., a completion of the cash
settlement. Then, a receipt showing the completion of cash
settlement is outputted from the receipt printer 17 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11.
[0092] As described above, according to this embodiment, the
settlement system 20 is configured to be capable of being
previously switched between the cash desk payment style and the pay
station payment style, by the operation display unit 12 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11. Thus, the cash desk payment style and the
pay station payment style can be switched to each other
significantly easily, at a given timing, e.g., on season and off
season, correspondingly to the number of available clerks, or upon
remodeling of a scale of the store. Moreover, the cash desk payment
style and the pay station payment style can be switched every day
of the week, depending on the number of customers on the day of the
week. Furthermore, the cash desk payment style and the pay station
payment style can be switched to each other more frequently, i.e.,
every time zone.
[0093] Next, a cash management system 1 including a settlement
system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention
is described.
[0094] Similarly to the first embodiment, in this embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 1, in the vicinity of a cash register 40, there are
disposed a control box 42 and a printer 43
(transaction-specifying-medium outputting unit) configured to print
a receipt as a transaction specifying medium. The cash register 40
has an operation unit 41 as a switching unit for controlling a
layout switching. In this embodiment, as an operation corresponding
to the layout switching, there is prepared (e.g., programmed) an
operation for rewriting apparatus specifying information (e.g., a
so-called IP address) of the control box 42 with respect to the
cash register 40 into apparatus specifying information of the cash
settlement apparatus 11 with respect to the cash register 40.
[0095] In the case of the cash desk payment style, the cash
register 40 in this embodiment is configured to transmit and
receive data to and from the cash settlement apparatus 11. On the
other hand, in the case of the pay station payment style, the cash
register 40 in this embodiment is configured to transmit and
receive data to and from the control box 42, by the rewriting
operation of the apparatus specifying information.
[0096] The other structures in this embodiment are the same as
those in the first embodiment.
[0097] Next, a settlement method by means of such a cash settlement
system 2 including the cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash
register 40 is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6.
[0098] When the settlement system 2 is located in the cash desk
payment style (see FIG. 7), the settlement method is the same as
that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.
2.
[0099] Next, a procedure for shifting to the pay station payment
style (see FIG. 8) is described. According to this embodiment, the
shift to the pay station payment style can be achieved by a
significantly simple action. Specifically, the apparatus specifying
information of the control box 42 with respect to the cash register
40 is rewritten into the apparatus specifying information of the
apparatus specifying information of the cash settlement apparatus
11 with respect to the cash register 40 through the operation unit
41 of the cash register 40, and the positions of the respective
constituent apparatuses (the cash register 40, the cash settlement
apparatus 11 and so on) are changed correspondingly. The shift to
the pay station payment style can be achieved only by the above
action, i.e., without any laborsome operations such as changing of
a wiring connection condition among the respective constituent
apparatuses and/or modifying of a control program. Similarly, it is
also possible to return to the cash desk payment style without any
labor some operations such as changing of a wring connection
condition among the respective constituent apparatuses and/or
modifying of the control program.
[0100] A settlement method in the case of the pay station payment
style is described with reference to Hg. 6.
(Step S401)
[0101] Article information of an article(s) to be purchased by a
customer is cash registered in the cash register 40 through, e.g.,
the bar code scanner 44, and a purchase amount of articles is
calculated.
(Step S402)
[0102] When the cash register 40 intends to transmit the purchase
amount of articles to the cash settlement apparatus 11, since the
apparatus specifying information has been rewritten as described
above, the purchase amount of articles is transmitted to the
control box 42.
(Step S403)
[0103] The control box 42 causes the printer 43 to print a receipt
on which transaction contents are printed, which include the
article information of the articles to be purchased by the
customer, the purchase amount of articles and so on. In this
embodiment, the purchase amount of articles is also printed as bar
code information.
(Step S404)
[0104] Further, the control box 42 performs a transaction
completion notification to the cash register 40, and performs a
transaction contents registration and notification to the cash
management apparatus 25.
(Step S405)
[0105] The customer takes the receipt by himself/herself or
receives the printed receipt by hand from the clerk. Then, the
customer transfers to the cash settlement apparatus 11 that is
located separately from the cash register 40.
(Step S406)
[0106] The customer causes the bar code reader 16 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11 to read the bar code information on the
receipt.
(Step S407)
[0107] Money paid by the customer is put into the banknote handling
unit 13 or the coin handling unit 14 of the cash settlement
apparatus 11. The operation of putting money thereinto is generally
performed by the customer himself/herself. The cash settlement
apparatus 11 performs a depositing operation including a
recognizing and counting operation of the money put thereinto.
(Step S408)
[0108] The cash settlement apparatus 11 calculates an amount of
money put thereinto.
(Step S409)
[0109] The cash settlement apparatus 11 regards the amount of money
put thereinto, which has been calculated in the step S408, as a
total amount of money from the customer, and calculates an amount
of change based on the total amount of money and the purchase
amount of article obtained from the bar code information.
(Step S410)
[0110] The cash settlement apparatus 11 dispenses change money
based on the amount of change which has been calculated in the step
S409. The dispensed change money is generally received by the
customer himself/herself.
(Step S411)
[0111] The cash settlement apparatus 11 notifies the cash register
40 and the cash management apparatus 25 of a completion of the
dispensing of change money, i.e., a completion of the cash
settlement. Then, a receipt showing the completion of cash
settlement is outputted from the receipt printer 17 of the cash
settlement apparatus 11.
[0112] As described above, according to this embodiment, the
settlement system 20 is configured to be capable of previously
rewriting the apparatus specifying information of the control box
into the apparatus specifying information of the cash settlement
apparatus 11. Thus, the cash desk payment style and the pay station
payment style can be switched to each other significantly easily,
at a given timing, e.g., on season and off season, correspondingly
to the number of available clerks, or upon remodeling of a scale of
the store. Moreover, the cash desk payment style and the pay
station payment style can be switched to each other every day of
the week, depending on the number of customers on the day of the
week. Furthermore, the cash desk payment style and the pay station
payment style can be switched more frequently, i.e., every time
zone.
[0113] As to the rewriting of the apparatus specifying information,
an embodiment in which the apparatus specifying information set in
the cash settlement apparatus 11 itself and the apparatus
specifying information set in the control box 42 itself are
rewritten can be employed, in addition to the embodiment in which
the transmission destination information (e.g., an IP address) set
in the cash register 40 is rewritten.
[0114] The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments as they are. When the present invention is embodied,
the constituent elements can be modified without departing from the
scope of the present invention. For example, in the settlement
method in the case of the pay station payment style in the first to
third embodiments, the purchase amount of articles by a customer is
printed as bar code information and the bar code information is
read by the cash settlement apparatus 11 so as to perform a
settlement operation. However, the purchase amount of articles may
be stored to be matched with predetermined ID information in the
cash management apparatus 25 or the like. In this case, when the ID
information is inputted in the cash settlement apparatus 11, the
cash settlement apparatus 11 reads out the information of the
purchase amount of articles stored to be matched with the ID
information, so as to perform the settlement process. In addition,
various inventions can be created by suitably combining the
plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above
embodiments. For example, some constituent elements may be deleted
from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments.
Further, constituent elements used in the different embodiments may
be suitably combined.
* * * * *